Doorknob structure



(iTQ-ff Oct. 16, 1951 W, R, SCHLAGE 2,571,767

DOOR KNOB STRUCTURE Filed Deo. 14, 1946 Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Walter R. Schlage, deceased, late ofBurlingame, Calif., byv Anna Schlage, executrix, Burlingame, Calif., assigner to Schlage Loek Company', SanA Francisco, Calif'., a corporation of California Application December 14, 1946, Serial No'. 716,307

Claims. l.

This invention relates to a knob structure particularly intended for use as a door knob, they present device being a modification of and` improvement on the showing in Patent No. 2,294,213 issued August 25, 1942,Y and entitled Door Knob Structure.

The knob structure disclosed in the above patent is made from sheet metal by die-forming operations and comprises three main parts; to

wit, an outer shell, an inner' shell, and an elongated cylindrical shaped shank. rlhe inner shell is first secured to the inner end of the shank by means of bendable lugs, and then the outer shell is telescoped over the inner shell and a portion of the outer shell is spun over the inner shell permanently to secure the shells together. Sucha structure does not have suicient rigidity and strength for all installations. Instances have been encountered where` the knob has been bent with relationv tothe shank or the securing lugs have broken.

The obj ect of the present invention is generallyv to improve and simplify the construction and operation of knob structures; to provide a sturdy and rm knob structure comprising an inner shank, an outer shell, and an inner shell; andA particularly, to provide means for securing inner and outer shells andV a shank in such a manner that the strength and rigidity required for all installations are provided.

The knob structure is shown by way of illustration in theY accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a closed end knob showing it applied to a doorv lock spindle;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a partly formed outer shell of the knob;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a partly formed inner shell ofthe knob;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a tubular' shank;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a knob section;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a door lock spindle;

Figure 7 is a section similar to Figure 1 butA showing an open end knob.

The door knob structure includes an outer hollow shell A, an inner hollow shell B, a tubular shank C, and a knob section D. vEach of the shells A and B is formed from sheet metal by die-punchingv operations and when ready for assembly, has an intermediate shape as shown in Figure 2 or 3. The inner shell B has an approximately radial end Wall 2 pierced by a series of radially disposed slots 3 or perforations. Also,

the rad-ial wall- 2- has a central bossV 2av protruding therefrom. The tubular shank Chas a series of"v lugs, 4- formed at one end i-n position to enter the slots 3 of the inner shell. When'. thel lugs arel fully inserted and the outer end 5 of the tubular' shank engages the radial end wall 2- of the shell; the lugsV are then Ibent over, as shownin Figure l to secure the inner shell to the outerend off` the shank. The partially formed; outer shell' A is then telescoped over: the inner shell andy the outer and inner shells are united by spinningor pressing the central and inner portions I thereof inwardly toward the shank C thereby forming a hollow, rounded hand grip secured to the outerend of the shank C by the lugs I.

The 'tubular' shank may4 Ibeformedl fromtubi-ng or from iiat sheet metal rolled or formed into-a partial tube. In either caseV a slot 8 isformed throughout its length anda key 9- is also formed in it by forcing a portion of the metal inwardly. A pair of apertures I'El are cut in the shank opposite each other to-receive` an assembly latch here-A inafter to be described.

A door knob spindle'E employed with this knobl is tubular in cross section and of an exterior diameter such that the shank C will` telescopeover it and t it snugly. A radially extending rollback I I formed on the inner end of the spindle E actuates a lock rollback member (notshowni), The spindle'E is provided ywith arslot ZI functioning as a key-way in conjunction with the key' 9 formed in the shank C.

In order thatthe knob structure may be secured against inadvertantremo-val from the spindlek E; a spring actuated latch I2 is employed. This latch is a small, approximately rectangular* plate perforated to receive onel end' of a `spring I3, secured to the spindle in any suitable manner. When the knob structure is applied by telescop-l ing the shank C over the spindle E' with the key 9 in the slot 2 I', the latch I2 is manually depressed. When the knob structure is pressed inwardly andiinally reaches the proper position on the spindle, the released latch I2 registers with one of the' apertures I0 and springs outwardly to project: into the aperture and' thereby secures the knobY structure on the spindle against acciden-tal endwise removal. f

The grip or hand portion of the knob structure' is not only secured to the outer end of' the shank C by means of the bendable lugsA 4, but is also supported with relation of the inner end of the shank. This is accomplished by the knob section D. A somewhat conical portion I4 is formed from sheetv metal by die-forming operations and' 3 is provided with a iiange I5 at the large end. The flange is turned in to secure a radial reinforcing washer i6 or annular dise. An opening I1 in the washer snugly engages the exterior surface of the shank C. The conical portion I has an inturned ilange engaging the end of the shank C and has an inturned tongue I8 at its inner end to function as a key member in the slot 8 of the shank C, thus securing the knob section D against rotation with relation with the shank or the inner and outer shells A and B. The flange I5 ts the opening I9 defined when the inner and outer shells are spun or pressed into their nal shape to form a support for the inner end of the shells A and B. This inter-engagement prevents bending of the inner and outer shells with relation to the shank C or the spindle E upon which it is mounted. The shells A and B are supported at both the outer end and the inner end and adequate strength and rigidity are vthus provided.

A small hole 20 is formed in the knob section I4 to align with the active one of the slots Il] of the shank. A nail or similar tool can be inserted through the hole 2U and the latch I2 may be so engaged and depressed when it is desired to remove the knob structure from the spindle.

The radial wall 2 of the inner shell B supports the hand grip part of the knob structure with relation to the outer end of the shank C and the conical knob section D including the washer I6 supports the hand grip part of the knob with relation to the inner end of the shank. The central boss or protrusion 2a on the inner shell supports the end of the outer shell, thus adding axial rigidity to the knob structure.

In some instances, a central opening 25 is formed in the outer shell A (see Fig. 7). The boss or protrusion 2a is then omitted or punched out to leave an opening 24 in the inner shell in alignment with the opening 25. The openings 24 and 25 are provided for the insertion of a push button actuated mechanism or for the insertion of a keyactuated locking mechanism. Even with the openings 24 and 25, the outer shell a is still supported as the opening 25 is rimmed by an annular ilange 24a, which rests on' the surface of the radial plate 2 of the inner shell B.

In the construction described in the foregoing description, the inner and outer shell sections A and B are supported with relation to the inner and outer ends of the shank C, and great strength and rigidity are obtained. While this and other features of the invention have been more or less specically described and illustrated, it should be understood that changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A door knob structure comprising a hollow shell closed at one end and open at the opposite end, a tubular shank extending through the open end of the shell, means securing the closed end of the shell to one end of the shank both against rotation and endwise movement with relation to the shank, a knob section telescoping over said shank and engaging said shell, and an annular disc in said knob section engaging said shank.

2. A door knob structure comprising a hollow shell at one end thereof having, an end wall and at the other end thereof having an opening, there being a plurality of perforations formed in the end wall, a tubular shank extending through said opening, and a series of lugs on one end of the shank extending through said perforations and bent over to secure the tubular shank to the hollow shell.

3. A door knob structure comprising an inner shell, an outer shell telescoping over and enclosing the inner shell said inner shell at one end thereof having an end wall having a series of slots formed therein, the other end of the inner shell and of the outer shell having an opening, a tubular shank extending through said opening, a series of lugs on one end of said shank extending through said slots and bent over to secure the inner shell to the shank, and a knob section carried by the opposite end of the shank, said knob section forming a closure for said opening and supporting said other end of the inner and outer shells with relation to said opposite end of the shank.

4. A door knob structure comprising a shell having a small Opening in one end and a larger opening at the opposite end, a tubular shank extending through the larger opening and at one end into contact with said one end of the shell and in alignment with the small opening, means securing the shell to said one end of the shank, and means adjacent the other end of the shank to support the opposite end of the shell.

5. A door knob structure comprising a hollow shell closed at one end and open at the opposite end, a tubular shank extending through the open end oi the shell and engaging the closed end of the shell, said shank having a key way formed therein, means securing the closed end of the shell to one end of the shank both against rotation and endwise movement with relation to the shank, a knob section telescoping over the opposite end of the shank, an annular flange on said knob section extending into and closing the open end of the shell, and a key member on the knob section engaging the key way in the shank to secure the knob section against rotation with relation to the shell and the shank.

6. A door knob structure comprising a hollow shell closed at one end and open at the opposite end, a tubular shank extending through the open end of the shell and engaging the closed end of the shell, means securing the closed end of the shell to one end of the shank both against rotation and endwise movement with relation to the shank, a knob section telescoping over the opposite end oi the shank, an annular flange on said knob section extending into and closing the open end of the shell, and a reenforcing washer secured in the knob section, and engaging the shank.

'7. A door knob structure comprising a hollow shell closed at one end and open at the opposite end, a tubular shank extending through the open end of the shell and engaging the closed end of the shell, means securing the closed end of the shell to one end of the shank both against rotation and endwise movement with relation to the shank, a knob section telescoping over the opposite end of the shank, an annular flange on said knob section extending into and closing the open end of the shell, a reenforcing washer secured in the knob section, and engaging the shank and an inturned flange on the knob section engaging an end of the shank. f

8. A door knob structure comprising a hollow shell having an end wall at one end thereof and having an opening at the other end thereof, there being a plurality of perforations formed in the end wall, a tubular shank extending through said opening, a series of lugs on one end of the shank 5 extending through said perforations and bent over to secure the tubular shank to the hollow shell, and means on the opposite end of the shank forming a closure and a support for said other end of the hollow shell.

9.r A door knob structure comprising a hollow shell having an end wall at one end thereof and having an opening at the other end thereof, there being a plurality of perforations formed in the end wall, a tubular shank extending through said opening, a series of lugs on one end of the shank extending through said perforations and bent over to secure the tubular shank to the hollow shell, and a knob section carried by the opposite end of the shank, said knob section forming a closure for said other end of the hollow shell and also supporting said other end of the hollow shell with relation to the shank.

10. A door knob structure Comprising a tubu- ANNA SCHLAGE. Eecuti of the Estate of Walter R. SchZwge, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,687,531 Verse Oct. 16, 1928 1,919,455 Wilson July 25, 1933 

